Islam
Life in Desert
- Called Bedouins/ Raised Camels, goats and sheep
- Lived in tents / Food = dates, vegetables, grain and dairy products
- Form tribes / loyal to one another
- Leader is a Sheikh – Carry out decisions of elders
- Tribes raid one another for possessions and land
Arab life
- Nomadic Tribes
- Move from one area to another due to rain (Food, Animals, trade)
- Value loyalty to family and clan
Life in Town
- Settled around oasis
- Farmed, raised animals, traded
- Caravans = used to travel in groups for safety and carried goods by camel
- Weak kingdoms created to control nomads and limit attacks on caravans
- City of Makkah becomes important “Crossroads of Commerce” $
Mecca / Kaaba
- In (Makkah) Mecca, an important religious site Center of City = Kaaba
- Houses statues of Arabian gods / goddesses but no more
- Most important was Allah – the creator believed that stones came from heaven
The Land of Arabia
- 630 CE create new Empire in southwest Asia / Islam driving force
- Water only a scattered springs and water holes = Oasis
- Dry desert, mountains, and valleys
- Environment – prevented armies from surrounding
- Traded w/ other regions / People come from far away Live w/ Jews and Christinas
- The “land of Arabia” where Muhammad lived and preached was primarily Mecca, located on the Arabian Peninsula, (Modern-day Saudi Arabia) He was born and spent most of his life in this region, where he received his first revelation
- Haji = Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca
Muhammad and his Message
- Successful Merchant who became troubled by what he saw
- Saddened by rich (neglected) treatment of the poor and disregarded for family life
- Goes to Mountain to pray, returns saying that he was visited by an angel “Gabriel”
- Starts preaching 610 AD Islam “Surrender to the will of Allah”
- Returned 20 years later to the mountain and said that he received additional revelations. These were put in the Quran / written word or holy book of Islam
Muhammad’s Message and Enemies
- After vision returns to Makkah with his message
- Only one god Allah and Muhammad is his prophet
- All fake (statues) gods and goddess destroyed at Kaaba
- 1st followers were family and friends
- Other people followed / won support of poor
- Wealthy and religious leaders feel he was weakening authority. feel threatened
- Hijrah = 622 AD move to Yathrib / name changed to Madinah “City of a prophet” 1st year of Muslim calendar
Muslim Community in Madinah
- Muhammad is seen as a skilled political and religious leader
- Using religion of Islam = applies laws covering all aspects of lie
- Prayed in Muhammad’s house facing Makkah
- Series of battles military struggles / wars
- Gains control of Makkah in 630 CE = future Pilgrimages to Makkah the Holy city in Islam
- Muhammad forgave people of Makkah if they pledged loyalty to Islam
- Islam grows / Muhammad dies in 632 CE
Beliefs and Practices of Islam
- Monotheistic = One all-powerful god
- Allah (God) Spoke to people through prophets
- Jews and Christians called people of the book
- According to Islam, Prophets = Adam, Moses, Abraham, (Not Issac but Ishmael) and Jesus?
- According to Islam, Muhammad is the last and greatest Prophet
The Quran
- Muhammad didn’t write / verses written by companions
- After his death verses were collected and arranged into the Quran
- How to live, be honest and fair
- Respect parents, be kind to neighbors
5 Pillars of Islam
- Profession of Faith – Believe in Allah and Muhammad is his messenger/prophet
- Prayer – 5x a day facing Makkah
- Alms – Donate to the poor
- Fasting – do not eat or drink from dawn to dusk during Ramadan
- Pilgrimage – Visit sacred sites once in your life (healthy/ money)
Guidelines for living as a Muslim
- Compiled from Actions and Sources
- Called Shari’ah
- Term describes guidelines and rules Muslims follow
- No pork, no gambling, no alcohol, and sex outside of marriage
Sunni / Shia
- Two groups: Iraq = Sunni / Iran = more Shia
- Different beliefs who should lead
- Sometimes war against each other
Founding an Empire
- Muhammad died new leader = caliph (successor)
- Goal to protect and spread Islam
- 1st four Caliphs were family/friends of Muhammad (Rightly Guided Caliphs)
- 636 Muslim Armies attack Sasanian Empire (Iraq, Afghanistan, trade routes)
- Sasanian Empire Became wealthy from taxing trade routes
- Sasanian Empire became weak from fighting Byzantine Empire fell to Arabs in 651
- New Islamic Arab Empire Founded included Southwest Asia and Northeast Africa
The Umayyads 661-750
- Governed Arab Empire form Damascus, Syria
- Umayyads extended Islamic rule deeper into Asia and Africa
- People of the Book Jews/ Christians (monotheistic)
- Under some leaders Jews/Christians were allowed to practice faith
- Some rulers force conversion
- Non-Muslims were forced to pay a special tax
- Many Non-Muslims convert to Islam
Islamic Spain
- 700s Muslims Conquer Spain / Cordoba = becomes center of Islam
- Cordoba = many “Great Thinkers” / Ibn Rushd – Law/medicine
- Ibn Rushd wrote on Aristotle and his work influenced Jews and Christians in Europe
- Muslims in Spain were generally Tolerant of other cultures (Jews flourished)
- Solomon ben Gabirol – Jewish scholar wrote “The Well of Life” and philosophy and law
- Moses Ma/imon/ides – physician in royal court Egypt wrote philosophy and Jewish law
Preachers and Traders
- Sufis – preached to get followers
- Combine local and Islamic traditions to understand god and Islam
- 700-1400c Muslims control trade in Asia and Africa
- Caravans travel form Egypt and Mesopotamia to China
- Carried spices, cloths, glass and carpet from homeland
- Return with spices, textiles and stones
- Arabic – language of business/ taught Islam along the way
- Timbuktu – West African Leading city of Muslim learning
Abbasid Rule
- Discontent w/ Umayyad Dynasty (Arab Muslims = best jobs, less tax)
- Rebellion non-Arab Muslims / Replaced by Abbasid in 750 to 1258
- Abbasid Empire improves trade and culture / New Capitol = Baghdad (Iraq) C of L
- City was center of trade, learning, culture / Connected major trade routes land/ Sea
- All Muslims (Not Just Arabic Muslims) could hold office in government or military
- Merchants grew rich from trade
- Abbasid value Persian culture (women wearing modest dress, concealing face)
- Ibn Khaldun – North Africa wrote “History of the World” Civilizations Rise and Fall
- Invent symbols for o-9, Invent Algebra, Abbasid rule = Golden Age of Islam
Seljuk Turks
- Seize Baghdad and allows Abbasid caliph to have less power
- Calls himself Sultan / Abbasid rule along Seljuk until Mongol Invasion in 1258
Ottoman Empire 1200s
- Turkish clans settled in Asia Minor / Conquer Constantinople 1453 = Ottoman
- Empire lasts until WWI 1918
- Suleiman I (The law giver) B/c Organize Ottoman Laws
- Build school and mosques / Special Privileges for Muslim
- Tax on non – Muslims / Military strength Keeps control of Empire
India’s Mongol Empire
- 1500s Mogul dynasty established Muslim empire in India / Akbar = leader
- At 1st all religions accepted / Later persecution of Hindus and Sikhs (seeks)
- Sikhism = Worlds 5th largest religion, 1 God, 1 holy book, Guru = Lin of Teachers
Division and Growth
- Who should succeed as Caliph
- Two groups
- Sunnis -accept rule of Umayyad dynasty (Most)
- Shia – descendants of Muhammad’s son in laws should rule (Majority in Iraq and Iran)
- Disagree on principles of Islam